"Our victory is clearly merited, but I was not expecting a win of such magnitude because Turkey are tough opponents who also played for their honour tonight.It was a special match as soon as we entered the field - we were booed! It was like an away game with a lot of pressure from the Turkish supporters."

"Mesut Özil is very strong mentally, he was very focused before this match, he was not afraid," Löw stated. "Throughout the match, he took the ascendancy over his marker. I am very happy for him that he scored that goal."

Bundestrainer Löw: "Unglaubliche Willenskraft" - 9 October 2010In an inteview on the dfb.de website, Jogi talks of the incredible spirit shown by his team, that Mesut Ozil was not unsettled by a hostile crowd, and is asked why the Bayern Munich players appear to be performing better at present for their country than their club.

"We have started well, but there is still a long way to go," the 50-year-old told German daily Bild."We solved the problem of how to beat Turkey and deserved to win, but we must continue that momentum."(on his reaction to a miss by Lukas Podolski) "It was a critical stage in the game," explained Löw."We were 1-0 up, but the Turks were pushing for an equalisier and the goal would have calmed the game for us, that is why I got so annoyed."(on Mesut Özil) "It was certainly not an easy situation for him," admitted the national coach.He's really strong nerves. He has Turkish parents and has roots in Germany and Turkey.He was absolutely delighted with both the goal and his victory in the changing room afterwards.I had no doubts about playing him, I had a long talk with him before the game and felt that his situation would not be a factor."

"The Turks are rested, they did not play at the 2010 World Cup and have had more time for preparation. Turkey is like Mainz," Löw told German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung."We feel that our players are still below their potential after the World Cup," admitted Löw, pictured left at the team's final pre-match training session in Berlin.

Germany coach Joachim Löw called Thursday for his players to show the dominance they displayed at the World Cup when they take on Turkey in an Euro 2012 qualifier.Löw said he was also hoping Friday's encounter between Group A's top two teams in Berlin will be played in a spirit of fairness both on and off the pitch.'We want to show the dominance we had at the World Cup and to shine on the pitch,' Löw said.Löw, who has coaching experience in Turkey, said he appreciated the friendliness, hospitality and 'positive fanaticism' of the Turkish people. 'Despite both sides' sporting ambitions I do have one great wish - and that is that fair play is the dominant factor on the pitch and in the stands, and that we can all enjoy a peaceful football evening,' he said. from MandC News

Coach Joachim Löw has revealed his candidates to replace injured midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger,"[Toni] Kroos, [Christian] Traesch or [Thomas] Mueller," he said when asked who are the candidates to start in place of the Bayern Munich man. Of the three, only Traesch has consistently played a holding role at club level, and Mueller is completely inexperienced in the position.

Löw also clarified that skipper Philipp Lahm will always play at right-back, and added that Jerome Boateng and Heiko Westermann will be primarily used in the centre, leaving the left-back slot up for grabs."Both players may occasionally be used on the outside, but we want a different permanent solution," he said.However, it appears that Löw has chosen Holger Badstuber to partner Per Mertesacker in central defence."In the last few months, Badstuber has given me a very good impression," Löw added. from Goal.com

"I think it is strategy and tactics that are more important in this game rather than what formation you will start with," said Löw who also played down the importance of Arda Turan''s injury absence for Turkey.

"It is painful for Turkey but they are not weakened by this absence," said Löw, who expects a fiery atmosphere in Berlin''s Olympic stadium with more than 35,000 Turkey fans in the stands."We are prepared for this occasion. We know there will be many Turkish fans in the stadium and we will be ready to feel the loud support for the Turkish team when we come on to the pitch. We are aware of this challenge but I am optimistic," he said. from Eurosport.yahoo.com

Löw: "Die Gastfreundschaft war überwältigend"Jogi writes on the dfb.de website of his time in Turkey as a club coach with Fenerbahçe in 1998/99 (he also had a brief spell with Adanaspor). He spoke of the extraordinary fanaticism from the supporters, and the friendliness of the people, saying that staying in Istanbul was an experience he did not want to miss, either as a coach or a person.

"Their disappointing form at club level doesn't worry me, it is something I had expected. The players have had an incredible World Cup and some of them are showing they have lost a bit of strength. That is normal," Löw said to reporters."Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose have always performed well for us, so I trust them. Mario Gomez has plenty of potential to improve."

"There is no need for big changes," Löw said. "We trust our established forces who played during the World Cup and have fulfilled our expectations in the EURO qualifier wins in September. Some new young players have shone with some outstanding performances in the Bundesliga, but in consultation with [Under-21 coach] Rainer Adrion we have decided, with the rebuilding of the Under-21 side, those players should have their first 90 minutes of international football there."(On Kevin Grosskreutz) "He is getting the chance to be among us for several days on the basis of his good performances in the past months,"

Germany coach Joachim Löw is concerned next week's Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey in Berlin could be an away game for his side given the amount of Turks living in the German capital."I can imagine it will be like that," Löw told Berlin newspaper BZ."I was at the Euro 2000 qualifier in 1999 at Munich as a spectator and it was similar."Many Turks live in Berlin and it is expected that at least half of the fans will be Turkish, but my team can handle that."The game will be held at Berlin's Olympic Stadium next Friday with both unbeaten sides on maximum six points in Group A after two matches.But the 74,228-capacity stadium is expected to be a cauldron and Löw is not underestimating Guus Hiddink-coached Turkey."They have excellent individual football players, moreover they are motivated because they were not at the 2010 World Cup," said the 50-year-old Löw.Löw will announce his squad for the match on Friday. from fifa.com, 30 September 2010Background to the Encounter from Uefa.com, 13 September 2010

With thanks to everyone on the Group for their contributions, in particular Silke, Nicole, Paula and Shymaa.

Last updated 29 July 2013Anything else you think I should include on this page? Let me know!